Decisions

Every decision we've summarized — searchable, filterable, neutral.

Feb 19 2025
2nd Cir. 22-1506 Panel Decision

DR. AHMED DIAA ELDIN ALI HUSSEIN v. DR. MOHAMED AHMED MAAIT

The Second Circuit affirmed the dismissal of a suit against Egypt's Finance Minister, holding that Egypt is the real party in interest and entitled to sovereign immunity under the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act. The court further ruled that the district court properly exercised its discretion to enlarge the time for removal and that the plaintiff waived arguments regarding FSIA exceptions.

Civil Securities
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Feb 18 2025
9th Cir. 2:23-cv-02093- Published

JOHN DOE, an individual v. GRINDR INC.; GRINDR LLC

The Ninth Circuit affirmed the dismissal of a lawsuit against Grindr, holding that Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act bars state law tort claims against the app for injuries sustained by an underage user. The court further ruled that the plaintiff failed to plausibly allege Grindr was a knowing perpetrator or beneficiary of sex trafficking, precluding relief under the FOSTA statutory exception.

Child Sexual Abuse Material Criminal
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Feb 13 2025
9th Cir. 21-1422 Published

EDGAR MURILLO-CHAVEZ v. PAMELA BONDI, Attorney General

The Ninth Circuit affirmed the denial of cancellation of removal for a lawful permanent resident convicted of crimes involving moral turpitude. The court held that the petitioner failed to prove prejudice from ineffective assistance of counsel because his Special Immigrant Juvenile status did not constitute a legal admission, meaning his offenses occurred within the seven-year bar period.

Civil Immigration (Civil)
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Feb 13 2025
9th Cir. 22-1568 Published

Advanced Integrative Medical Science Institute v. United States Drug Enforcement Administration

The Ninth Circuit denied a petition for review challenging the DEA's refusal to exempt a doctor from registration requirements to administer psilocybin under the Right to Try Act. The court held that the DEA's letter was a final agency action and that its denial was not arbitrary or capricious because the agency provided a reasonable explanation for declining to initiate rulemaking.

Civil Immigration (Civil)
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Feb 13 2025
2nd Cir. 22-861 Panel Decision

United States v. Mangano

The Second Circuit reversed Edward Mangano's convictions for federal programs bribery, ruling the evidence insufficient to prove he was an agent of the Town of Oyster Bay. The court affirmed his convictions for honest services fraud and obstruction of justice, as well as his wife's convictions for those crimes and making false statements.

Criminal Fraud Supervised Release
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Feb 13 2025
2nd Cir. 22-1377 Panel Decision

Hoffer v. Tellone

The Second Circuit clarified that sanctions for lost electronic evidence under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 37(e)(2) require a specific finding of intent to deprive the opponent of that information. The court rejected the application of a lesser negligence standard, affirming the district court's denial of an adverse inference instruction in a civil rights excessive force case.

Civil Civil Rights - Section 1983
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Feb 13 2025
2nd Cir. 22-937 Panel Decision

United States v. Mangano

The Second Circuit reversed Edward Mangano's federal programs bribery convictions, ruling that the evidence was insufficient to prove he was an agent of the Town of Oyster Bay. The court affirmed his honest services fraud and obstruction of justice convictions, holding that the jury instructions were proper and the evidence sufficient to support those charges.

Criminal Fraud
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Feb 12 2025
9th Cir. 23-1745 Published

Lapadat v. Bondi

The Ninth Circuit granted the Lapadats' petition for review and remanded their asylum case, holding that the Board of Immigration Appeals erred by disregarding credible testimony of past persecution. The panel further ruled that the record compels a finding that the Roma are a disfavored group in Romania.

Civil Immigration (Civil)
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Feb 12 2025
2nd Cir. 22-1982 Panel Decision

United States v. Kelly

The Second Circuit affirmed R. Kelly's RICO and Mann Act convictions, rejecting challenges to the sufficiency of the evidence and the constitutionality of the underlying state laws. The court also upheld the district court's evidentiary rulings, jury selection process, and restitution orders, leaving the defendant subject to his original sentence and financial penalties.

Constitutional Habeas Corpus - General (28 USC 2241) Sixth Amendment - Ineffective Assistance of Counsel Supervised Release
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Feb 12 2025
2nd Cir. 22-1481 Panel Decision

United States v. Kelly

The Second Circuit affirmed Robert Sylvester Kelly's RICO and Mann Act convictions, ruling that sufficient evidence supported each count and that the underlying state laws were constitutional as applied to him. The court rejected claims of juror bias, ineffective assistance during voir dire, and errors in evidentiary rulings and restitution orders.

Constitutional Habeas Corpus - General (28 USC 2241) Sixth Amendment - Ineffective Assistance of Counsel Supervised Release
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